, one with black hair. one that's very fair because what do we have to do when we take john outside? he has to get lots of sunscreen. and one that's a deep, dark, rich, chocolate color. but they're both boys, so they're the same, but they're different. hendrick: it is very important that we communicate openly and directly with our children about issues of race, ethnicity, and gender. woman: does anybody know what is the same about us? child: no. our skin. woman: we all have skin. hendrick: and we can start by simply not shying away from answering some very basic questions or comments our children may have-- comments that are not intended to hurt. woman: our ears are different. for example, i once heard a child ask in surprise, "you mean, you're black all over?" or we might hear, "how come he walks so funny?" or, "no girls here. this is a guy thing." questions like these should never be hushed up. instead, they should be regarded as not-to-be-missed opportunities to provide matter-of-fact answers, just as we would answer questions about why the dogs are barking or how come the whistle bl
